Mobile scratch off advertising system

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a method, system, and computer program configured to display advertising to mobile user. The method may include uploading logon information from a mobile device to a server, wherein the logon information contains at least a geographical location identifier, downloading a current electronic scratch off game to the mobile device from the central server, wherein the current electronic scratch off game corresponds to the geographical location identifier, displaying a foreground image to a user of the mobile device, and receiving a wiping input from the user of the mobile device on a touch screen of the mobile device. The method may further include removing a portion of the foreground image corresponding to the wiping input, displaying background image in areas corresponding to the wiping input, displaying a win or loss indicator, and using the win indicator at a retail sponsor advertising location to obtain a prize or item of value.

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/395,181, which was filed Feb. 27, 2009 whichclaims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/198,928, which was filed on Nov. 10, 2008. Thesepriority applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety into the present application, to the extent the priorityapplications are not inconsistent with the present application.

BACKGROUND

A scratch card, which is often referred to as a scratch off, scratchticket, scratch game, scratch-and-win or instant game, is generallydescribed as a small device that is usually made of a disposablematerial, such as paper, cardstock, or cardboard, where one or moreareas of the device contain concealed information. Generally theconcealed information is printed on the device in some manner and issubsequently covered by a substance, such as a latex material, thatcannot be seen through, but can be scratched off by the user of thedevice. Applications for scratch cards include gambling, lottery games,quizzes, and to conceal PINs for telephone calling cards and otherprepaid-type services. In some cases, the entire scratchable area isremoved or scratched to determine if a prize has been won, or to revealthe secret code. Generally, the result for the device holder does notchange based on what portions are scratched off or not. In other cases,selected areas have to be scratched to win.

However, these conventional scratch cards or devices are extremelyvulnerable to attack, as technology and devices exist that allow hackersto see through the concealing substance without physically disturbingit. Additionally, conventional scratch cards require a brick and mortardistribution, which increases overhead and limits distributionbandwidth. Further, conventional scratch cards are not environmentallyfriendly, as they are discarded once used. Finally, althoughconventional scratch cards are very popular, they do not provide anysort of targeted advertising for their sponsors other than to only sellscratch cards manufactured for specific geographic areas, which is notcost effective. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method orsoftware package that allows for mass electronic distribution of scratchcards with targeted advertising.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a method for displayingadvertising to mobile user. The method may include uploading logoninformation from a mobile device to a server, wherein the logoninformation contains at least a geographical location identifier,downloading a current electronic scratch off game to the mobile devicefrom the central server, wherein the current electronic scratch off gamecorresponds to the geographical location identifier, displaying aforeground image to a user of the mobile device, and receiving a wipinginput from the user of the mobile device on a touch screen of the mobiledevice. The method may further include removing a portion of theforeground image corresponding to the wiping input, displayingbackground image in areas corresponding to the wiping input, displayinga win or loss indicator, and using the win indicator at a retail sponsoradvertising location to obtain a prize or item of value.

Embodiments of the invention may further provide a computer programembodied on a computer readable medium, that when executed by aprocessor, is configured to control a method for displaying advertisingcontent to a mobile user. The computer controlled method may includeuploading logon information from a mobile device to a central server,wherein the logon information contains a geographical locationidentifier, downloading a current electronic scratch off game to themobile device from the central server, wherein the current electronicscratch off game corresponds to the geographic location identifier, anddisplaying a foreground image to a user of the mobile device. Thecomputer controlled method may further include receiving a wiping inputfrom the user of the mobile device on a touch screen of the mobiledevice, removing a portion of the foreground image corresponding to thewiping input, displaying background image in areas corresponding to thewiping input, displaying a win or loss indicator, and using the winindicator at a retail sponsor advertising location to obtain a prize oritem of value.

Embodiments of the invention may further provide a method for displayingtargeted advertising to a user of a mobile device. The method mayinclude receiving a logon request from the mobile device in anadvertising server, wherein the logon request includes a mobile deviceID and geographic location information for the mobile device, validatingthe logon request in the advertising server, and in response to thevalidating, sending a geographically specific scratch off game from theserver to the mobile device, wherein the scratch off game includes aunique package ID, and receiving the scratch off game and the uniquepackage ID in the mobile device, and validating the scratch off game bycomparing the received unique package ID with a locally stored gamepackage ID. The method may further include, upon successful validationof the scratch off game, allowing the user to play the game, which mayinclude displaying a foreground image to the user on a touch screendisplay of the mobile device, and receiving a touch screen input on themobile device and removing the foreground image in an area where thetouch screen input was received, thus revealing portions of a backgroundimage, which may reveal if the game contains a win or loss indicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is best understood from the following detaileddescription when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasizedthat, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, variousfeatures are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the variousfeatures may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity ofdiscussion.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart for an exemplary method for providing ascratch or rub off game to a mobile user;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart further detailing an exemplary logon orinitialization process for an exemplary method of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart further detailing an exemplary game playprocess for an exemplary method of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart further detailing an exemplary prizeclaim process for an exemplary method of the invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates and exemplary system configuration of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides severaldifferent exemplary embodiments or examples for implementing differentfeatures of various exemplary embodiments of the invention. Althoughsome specific examples of components, arrangements, configurations, etc.are described below to simplify the present disclosure, these examplesand exemplary embodiments are, of course, merely examples and are notintended to be limiting upon the scope of the invention. Additionally,the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters inthe description or figures related to the various exemplary embodimentsof the invention. However, this repetition is for the purpose ofsimplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationshipbetween the various exemplary embodiments and/or configurationsdescribed herein. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or ona second feature in the description that follows may include embodimentsin which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, andmay also include embodiments in which additional features may be formedinterposing the first and second features, such that the first andsecond features may not be in direct contact.

The same applies for software processes, method steps, and proceduresdescribed herein, i.e., the order of the steps or processes illustratedin exemplary embodiments is not intended to be limiting in thatadditional steps may be interstitially inserted or positioned withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Further, unless specificallyrecited in a claim, where method steps or processes are described,embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to anyparticular order of method steps, as variations on the exemplary step orprocess sequences are contemplated within the scope of the invention.More particularly, the inventors contemplate that the method stepsand/or processes described in the following exemplary embodiments may beconducted in any order and may include a mix of steps from a pluralityof exemplary embodiments in any order.

Additionally, in the following, reference is made to various embodimentsof the invention. However, it should be understood that the invention isnot limited to any of the specifically described embodiments. Rather,the invention may include any combination of the features and elementsdescribed in the various exemplary embodiments, whether related todifferent embodiments or not. Furthermore, in various exemplaryembodiments, the invention provides numerous advantages over the priorart. However, although embodiments of the invention may achieveadvantages over other possible solutions and/or over the prior art,whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a given embodimentis not limiting of the invention. Thus, the following aspects, features,embodiments and advantages are merely illustrative and are notconsidered express elements or limitations of the appended claims,except where explicitly recited in a claim(s). Likewise, reference to“the invention” shall not be construed as a generalization of anyinventive subject matter disclosed herein and shall not be considered tobe an element or limitation of the appended claims except whereexplicitly recited in a claim(s).

One embodiment of the invention may be implemented as a program productfor use with a computer system or other data or instructionprocessing-type system, device, or apparatus, which may include any typeof mobile or portable device capable of storing a program, executingprocessing instructions, and displaying a result to a user. Theprogram(s) of the program product may define functions of theembodiments (including the methods described herein) and may becontained on a variety of computer-readable media. Illustrativecomputer-readable media include, but are not limited to: (i) informationpermanently stored on non-writable storage media (e.g., read-only memorydevices within a computer, a server, network, mobile device, etc.) (ii)writable/alterable information stored on writable storage media (e.g.,CD-ROM disks, zip disks, hard-disk drives, tape drives, flash memory,and any other writable computer storage medium known in the art); or(iii) information conveyed to a computer or wireless device by acommunications medium, such as through a computer network, wirelessnetwork, optical network, radio network, or any other networktraditionally used to communicate between computers, servers, or mobiledevices. The latter embodiment specifically includes informationtransmitted to/from the Internet and/or other wireless networks, such asthose networks used to communicate with mobile phones and other handheld computing devices.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of theinvention, may be part of an operating system or a specific application,component, program, module, object, or sequence of instructions. Thecomputer program of the present disclosure typically includes amultitude of instructions that will be translated by the native computerinto a machine-readable format, and hence the instructions aretransformed into executable instructions. Also, programs generallyinclude variables and data structures that either reside locally to theprogram or are found in memory or on storage devices in communicationwith the computer system or processor. Additionally, various programsdescribed hereinafter may be identified based upon the application forwhich they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention.However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature that follows is used merely for convenience, and thus theinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart for an exemplary method for providing ascratch or rub off game to a mobile device, wherein the scratch or ruboff game includes a dynamically generated advertising component. Forpurposes of the exemplary method, a mobile device may generally bedefined as a hand held or pocket-sized computing device that typicallyincludes a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard.Mobile devices used in the present disclosure generally include wirelesscommunication capability, such as analog or digital cellular or mobilephone-type communications, satellite communications, or other radiofrequency-type communications. Exemplary mobile devices include a cellor mobile phone, a handheld electronic computing device, and a mobileorganizer device or a personal or enterprise digital assistant (PDA).

Returning to the exemplary method illustrated in FIG. 1, the exemplarymethod begins at 100 and continues to 102, where a mobile devicedownloads and/or installs software configured to support the scratch orrub off game on the particular mobile device. The software may bedownloaded through a wireless network, such as the wireless network usedto support cell phone service or mobile Internet service in a typicalmobile device, or alternatively, the software may be downloaded via atemporary hard connection between the mobile device and a network,server, or other data storage device configured to store and distributethe software.

Once the scratch off game software is installed and configured on themobile device, the user of the mobile device activates the game at 104.The mobile device executes a logon process with a game server and/oradvertising server (further described herein). Once the mobile device islogged on to the respective servers, the method continues to 106 wherethe user of the mobile device plays the game on the mobile device.However, in at least one embodiment of the invention, the mobile devicedoes not need to be continually connected to the servers for a user toplay the game. In some embodiments of the disclosure the user may beselectively allowed to play the game a plurality of times, and duringeach play of the game the user may have an opportunity to win a prize orother reward. In the event that the user wins during one of the gameplays, the method continues to 108 where the user is awarded and/orclaims the prize for winning the game.

The process for awarding the prize may include providing a code, such asa coupon code or bar code, that allows the user to receive a discount ona future purchase. Other prize awarding processes may include creditingan account associated with the user of the mobile device with a point ormonetary value that may be used to obtain goods, services, or discountsat specified merchants. Once the user has played the game and claimed aprize, the user may either continue to play the game, assuming that thegame has not expired, or the user may stop playing and end the game, asnoted at 110 in the exemplary flowchart. The applicants note that eachgame downloaded may include an internal expiration, which may be trackedusing the game ID mentioned herein. Thus, the server may exercisecontrol over the use of the game by expiring the game ID associated witha particular mobile device. The local MDOS of the mobile device may alsouse an internal counter to determine and track the number of times thata particular game has been played by the user. As such, each individualgame downloaded by the mobile device may include a predeterminedexpiration game count, that when reached, disables the game for furtherplay. Thus, if a game has an expiration game count of 10, then the usermay be allowed to play the game 10 times, i.e., until the MDOS'sinternal counter reaches 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart further detailing an exemplary logon orinitialization process for an exemplary method of the invention. Theexemplary method illustrated in FIG. 2 begins at 200 and continues to202, where the mobile device sends logon information to the game and/oradvertising server. The logon information may include, for example, amobile device ID, a username and/or password for the server network,and/or geographical location information/identifier, which may includeGPS coordinates, longitude and latitude, cell tower proximity, or otherlocation information that may be determined or triangulated usingconventional mobile phone signal transmission technologies.

The logon information is received by the server network andauthenticated. Once the logon information is authenticated, the methodcontinues to 204, where an updated games list and the associated packageIDs are sent to the mobile device from the server network. For example,upon successful logon, the server network may send the list of currentgames with a package ID associated with each game back to the mobiledevice. The server network may further send a list of available gamesbased upon the geographic location of the mobile device, which may bedetermined from GPS coordinates, cell site triangulation, user input, orother known location determination methodologies. If any of the games onthe mobile device are out of date or expired (outdated or mismatchedpackage or game ID), then the game associated with the respective ID maybe expired or otherwise rendered unavailable to play or to win a validprize. Further, the server may use the geographic location identifier toselect a particular game that is configured for the specific locationwithin which the mobile device is opening. For example, when the serverreceives the geographic location identification information from amobile device, the server may select a scratch off game from thedatabase of games available, where the selected scratch off game isconfigured to provide targeted advertising for the specific geographiclocation where the mobile device is operating. As such, the system andmethodology of the present disclosure allows for advertisers to targetspecific geographic areas which may be proximate to the advertiser'sbrick and mortar location.

With regard to determining the geographic location of a mobile device, acell site is a term used primarily in North America for a site whereantennas and electronic communications equipment are placed to create acell in a mobile phone or wireless data network. A cell site isgenerally composed of a tower or other elevated structure for mountingantennas, and one or more sets of transmitter/receivers transceivers,digital signal processors, and control electronics, a GPS receiver fortiming (for CDMA2000 or IS-95 systems). In GSM networks, cell sites areoften referred to as Base Transceiver Stations (BTS). When a mobiledevice is operating, the device is generally communicating with aprimary cell site, however, the mobile device is often communicatingwith several other secondary cell sites as well. The term handoff orhandover refers to the process of transferring an ongoing call or datasession from one cell site to another cell site, and this may generallyoccur when the mobile device is moving through a geographic area. Whencell sites communicate with mobile devices, there is an exchange ofinformation, which may include identification numbers for the devices,data or voice sessions in progress, etc. Additionally, the exchangedinformation may include signal strength, and since multiple cell sitesmay communicate with a single mobile device, the signal strength frommultiple cell sites may be used to determine or approximate a mobiledevice's geographic location via triangulation. Similarly, if the mobiledevice is GPS enabled, the GPS coordinates may be exchanged with thecell site. Thus, in areas or on devices where GPS location is notavailable, cell sites may be used in embodiments of the presentdisclosure to provide relatively accurate geographic locationinformation for the mobile device so that the advertising server canselect appropriate content to send to the mobile device.

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 2, the information sent from theserver network to the mobile device is received by the mobile device andprocessed by the mobile device operating system (MDOS), as noted at 206.In at least one exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the MDOS may beconfigured to check the local cache of games resident on the mobiledevice based upon the package IDs associated with the individual gamesto determine if the package IDs of the cached games differ from thosejust received from the server network. In the event that a package IDfor a particular game does not match, then the mobile device may beconfigured to clear the older version of the game from the cache memoryand download and install the most recent version of the game (having themost recent package ID).

Individual game configurations may be dependent upon package IDs, and assuch, one novel feature of the present disclosure is to dynamicallypopulate mobile devices with games having particular (new and updated)package IDs. For example, a particular game having a particular packageID may be configured for use in a specific geographic area, in that thegame may have prizes or rewards that are targeted to a particulargeographic area. Further, each game may also have location specificadvertising associated therewith, and as such, the present disclosuremay utilize the game package IDs to ensure that users playing the gamein a particular geographic area will be exposed to relevant advertisingand will have the opportunity to win or receive geographically relevantprizes, coupons, or discount codes. Returning to the discussion of theexemplary method illustrated in FIG. 2, once the mobile device haslogged on to the server network, been validated, and has received theappropriate game package, the exemplary method may continue to 208,where the user is able to start playing the game.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart further detailing an exemplary game playprocess for an exemplary method of the invention. The exemplary methodillustrated in FIG. 3 begins at 300 and continues to 302 where the gameis loaded locally on the mobile device. Loading the game, as isgenerally known in the art, may include reading a plurality of softwareinstructions from a memory resident on the mobile device, wherein thesoftware instructions are configured to support the operation of thegame. This process may continue throughout the game as necessary.

During the process of playing the game, two images are simultaneouslydisplayed, with one image in the background and generally not viewableby the user initially. The second image, which is the forefront orforeground image, is viewable by the user. Thus, at 304 of the exemplarymethod, the first image or the forefront image is displayed to the user.The method continues to 306, where the user wipes, rubs, or “scratches”the screen of the mobile device to display at least a portion of theunderlying background image. Thus, at 306 a mobile device that includesa touch screen input and output device may be configured to display theforeground image to the user, and then remove the foreground image onthe display screen for every location where the user touches the displayscreen. As such, if the user were to wipe their finger across thescreen, the resulting display would wipe away the foreground image inthe same area where the user touched or wiped the screen. In the areawere the user touched or wiped the screen, the background image will bedisplayed and the foreground image will be removed or cleared in thatparticular area. Thus, the user may essentially wipe away the entireforeground image by touching the entire surface area of the screen atvarious times to reveal or display the background image.

The background image may generally include a game result, prizeindication, and/or an advertisement. More particularly, in embodimentsof the invention where the method may be used to provide an automatedscratch off game card, then the foreground image may be used torepresent the scratch off material and the background image may be usedto represent the image displayed to the user of a scratch off card oncethe scratch off material is removed. Thus, the background image mayinclude a prize indication if the scratch off card, i.e., the electronicgame, is a winner.

In at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the backgroundand/or foreground images displayed to the user of the mobile device mayinclude a targeted advertising component. More particularly, as notedabove, the exemplary method of the invention may include providing ageographical indicator to the advertising and/or game server of theexemplary system of the invention. This geographical information may beused by the system of the invention to provide targeted advertisingand/or game rewards or prizes to the users based upon the geographiclocation of the mobile device when the game is being played. Forexample, if the user of the game is close to a particular retail outlet,such as a coffee shop, then the prize or coupon given to the user uponwinning the scratch off game may be a coupon for a discounted item or afree item at the respective coffee shop to which the user of the mobiledevice is geographically proximate. This allows the game provider tosell targeted advertising that has been shown to generate higherpercentages of customer response to the advertising for scratch off orrub off games.

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 3, at 308 the advertising componentof the game may be displayed to the user. The advertising component maybe displayed after the user wipes off the foreground image along withthe win or loss information. However, in other exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, the advertising may also be displayed to the user in theforeground image prior to the wipe off process. In yet another exemplaryembodiment, the advertising component may be displayed in a banner typemode during various stages of the game. Additionally, as noted above,the advertising displayed to the user of the mobile device generallycomprises targeted advertising, i.e., the advertising may be selectedbased upon at least the geographic location of the mobile device. Inother exemplary embodiments of the invention, the advertising may beselected in accordance with the mobile device user's profile. Forexample, the user of a mobile device may be asked to enter informationin order to access the games, and this information can be used to selecttargeted advertising for the particular user. For example, in order toactivate the games on a particular mobile device, the user may berequired to enter basic financial information, geographic information,demographic information, personal interest information, or any otherinformation that may be useful to an advertiser in selecting a targetedadvertising audience.

Once the user wipes off at least a portion of the foreground image, themethod continues to 310, where win/loss information may be displayed tothe user. Win/loss information may include coupons, discount codes,point or monetary values to be added to a winner's account, or any otherprize or incentive that a particular advertiser may desire to offer to agame player. Once the win/loss information is displayed to the user at310, the user may continue to play the game if the particular game hasnot expired or run out of attempts available, or the user maydiscontinue playing the game and the exemplary method may end at 312.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart further detailing an exemplary prizeclaim process for an exemplary method of the invention. The methodbegins at 400 and continues to 401, where the mobile device sends arequest to the game and/or advertising server for prize data to bedisplayed on the screen for a selected prize in the prizes won area ofthe application. The advertising and/or prize server may validate therequest and send back prize data to the mobile device if the prize isnot yet claimed. For example, the advertising and/or prize server maygenerally check to determine that the game is not issuing the same prizeto multiple players such that a prize budget for a particular advertiseror contributor may be managed and controlled. The prize data is receivedfrom the advertising and/or game server by the MDOS, which may thendisplay geographic information, such as a map or address, where thewinner can claim a particular prize won in the game. Further, for mobiledevices that are GPS enabled, the method of the invention may furtherinclude providing directions to the location where the prize can beclaimed, as described in 403 of the exemplary method.

Thus, once the game prize is determined and displayed to the user, theuser may either claim the prize at the sponsoring location, or store theprize in memory on the mobile device, as noted at 404 of the exemplarymethod. In embodiments of the invention where the user chooses to redeemthe prize, the user may proceed to the retail location sponsoring theprize using the provided directions. Once at the retail location, theuser may present a prize code (display the code on the mobile devicesscreen) or other identifying indicia that is associated with aparticular prize, as noted at 405 in the exemplary method. In anotherexemplary embodiment, the mobile device may be configured to display abar code on the screen of the mobile device, and the retail location mayscan in the displayed barcode to facilitate the prize redemptionprocess. Regardless of the redemption method, generally the prize codeor bar code used to redeem the prize is predetermined, i.e., the prizecodes are generally set up by the sponsor retail locations with theadvertising and/or game servers so that the validity and authenticity ofthe game and its winners can be monitored and controlled throughout theentire methodology. Thus, once a prize code or bar code is presented tothe retail location, the retail location will generally have a computeror other electronic terminal configured to communicate with a validationsource for the prize or bar code. For example, a retail location mayhave the prize or barcodes programmed into their merchandising systemssuch that when a barcode or prize code is presented it can be validatedagainst the retail locations own records for prizes to be distributed.

In another exemplary embodiment, the retail location may communicatewith the game server or the advertising server of the present disclosureto validate the prize won. In this embodiment, a terminal at the retaillocation may send information such as prize data, an encryptedidentification number, an encrypted mobile device identification number,geographic information, or sponsor redemption code-type information tothe advertising and/or game server to validate the prize being claimed.The advertising/game server may then validate the prize being claimedand expire the prize on the respective servers so that a secondary claimof the same prize cannot take place. The servers may then send thevalidation back to the retail location to facilitate distribution of theretail prize. Regardless of the validation method, once the prize isvalidated by the servers and transmitted back to the retail location,the method continues to 407 where the retail location awards the prize,and the method ends at 408.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary system configuration 500 for anexemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The exemplary system 500generally includes a server 502 which may be configured to storeadvertising information, game information, and download information. Theserver 502 may further be configured to serve or download theinformation stored thereon to various mobile devices 506. The exemplaryserver 502 may be in communication with a network 504, wherein thenetwork 504 is configured to communicate between various mobile devices506 and the server 502. The network 504 may be any type of data or voicecommunication network, such as a satellite network, cellular network,digital network, or other type of wireless or wired network. Further,the network 504 will generally be configured for bidirectionalcommunication between the server 502 in the various mobile devices 506.The network 504 is generally in communication with at least one mobiledevice 506. The mobile device 506 includes a plurality of internalcomponents, including, but not limited to the MDOS 508, a processor 510configured to execute software instructions, and memory device 512configured to store a software program or data thereon, and at least oneI/O device 514, which for purposes of the present disclosure may includea touch screen display.

In operation, the exemplary mobile device 506 may be used to communicatewith the server 502 to download at least one game. When the useractivates the game on the mobile device 506, the mobile device 506 maycommunicate with the server 502 to both validate the game and tocommunicate the geographic location of the mobile device at the time ofthe game to the server 502. The server 502 may communicate game, prize,and/or advertising information back to the mobile device 506 inaccordance with the geographic information sent to the server 502 fromthe mobile device 506. The mobile device may then display a foregroundimage with a background image that is not visible behind the foregroundimage. The foreground image may contain an advertising component,wherein the advertising component is selected in accordance with thegeographical location of the mobile device.

The user may touch at least a portion of the mobile device screen towipe off the foreground image to reveal at least a portion of thebackground image. In revealing the background image, the user revealswhether or not the game has been won, and further, if there is a prizewon in the game. If a prize is won, a coupon code or other redemptioninformation may be displayed, and further, the mobile device may providedirections or other geographic information to the user to facilitateclaiming of the prize immediately after playing the game. For example,the mobile device may display directions to the user of the mobiledevice to facilitate the user traveling to the nearest retail locationof the prize sponsoring retail organization, thus facilitating theuser's immediate redemption of the prize won, and further, facilitatingthe user traveling directly to the retail outlet and becoming anadvertising customer conversion.

Once the user of the mobile device is in the retail outlet, the prizewon may be claimed by displaying a prize or coupon code on the screen ofthe mobile device, which may then be entered into the retail outletsmerchandising system for redemption. In another exemplary embodiment ofthe invention, the mobile device may display a bar code corresponding tothe prize won in the game, and the bar code may be scanned by the retaillocation to facilitate prize redemption. Upon redeeming the prize, themobile device, the retail location, and the game servers cooperativelyoperate to validate the prize and to maintain the prize database suchthat duplicate prizes and/or fraudulent activity can be eliminated.

In another exemplary embodiment, the prize may not be immediatelyclaimed, and as such, the redemption information may be stored in themobile device for future use. Much like conventional coupons and/orprice reductions, the data associated with the redemption informationmay have an expiration date on it, and as such, the data mayautomatically erase itself from the mobile device's memory after anexpiration period tolls. In other embodiments, the game may beconfigured for a running total or score related to the prizes won. Forexample, the exemplary game may be configured to keep a cumulative scoreof prizes, points, or other indicia of winning or value on the mobiledevice. This cumulative score may then be used at some point in time toreceive prizes, coupons, discounts, etc., much like a conventionalfrequent point or frequent flyer type account is used.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the software, method,and/or system of the disclosure may be used to play a lottery orlottery-type game on the handheld device. In similar fashion topreviously described methods, the lottery game may be downloaded to thehandheld device from a central server and played locally on the device.The central server may utilize tracking and monitoring functions torandomly select the numbers for the game and may send the winning gameticket to a random user. In other exemplary embodiments the centralserver may use predetermined parameters to select a user to send thewinning lottery ticket to, wherein the predetermined parameters mayinclude geographic location, a point value assigned to a particular useror mobile device, where the point value corresponds to frequency of useof the game or advertising service or another customer-related factorsuch as purchasing at a particular retailer or purchasing a particulartype of product.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the method orsoftware of the disclosure may be configured to allow a player to earnpoints or credits for either playing or winning at the games, takingsurveys that contribute information beneficial to advertisers, orparticipating in interactive processes on the handheld. The accumulatedpoints or credits may then be redeemed at a retail location or on awebsite for products or services, i.e., the points may become acontribution to a greater point total needed to claim a prize, or mayequate to or be exchanged for a product/prize at a sponsor oradvertising retailer, for example.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, a sponsor may requirethat a player who has won a prize or points display some form ofidentification, such as a picture ID, drivers license, or credit card toclaim the prize for winning a game at a retail location. This isslightly different from the previous exemplary embodiments where themobile device was used to display a bar code that the retailer couldscan to apply the discount or claim the prize. The possession of the IDor credit card would serve as a confirming method that allows forcomparison with data on hand with the sponsor or retailer that theparticular user has won a prize. Thus, in some exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, the mobile device and/or the central server maycommunicate with the sponsor/retailer's computer system to transmit datathereto. The data may be used to represent which players have won a gamethat involves the sponsor or retailer.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the software ormethod of the disclosure may be configured to allow advertisers orsponsors to select or change the game odds or types of prizes awardedbased on the location of the user device. In an exemplary embodiment ofthe disclosure the advertisers or sponsors may select or change the gameodds or prizes based on any parameter or simply as a choice that isavailable to the sponsor, advertiser, or retailer. In at least oneembodiment of the invention the game odds (odds of winning in anyparticular game) may be changed dynamically via communication with thegame server by the retailer, advertiser, or sponsor. In other exemplaryembodiments the game odds may be changed in accordance withpredetermined parameters or algorithms that the advertisers or sponsorsmay set and program into the server so that the server may automaticallychange the odds of the games when the parameters are satisfied or met.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the method orsoftware of the disclosure may be implemented on mobile phones orhandheld devices that do not use touch screens. Although the method andsoftware of the disclosure may use the screen wiping function in someembodiments, the inventors contemplate that other methods for removingportions of the foreground image to reveal portions of the backgroundimage (the win loss indicator) may be used without departing from thescope of the disclosure.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure the software ormethods of the disclosure may be available for playing on the web orinternet, whereby the winners can print a coupon/certificate to presentto the retailer.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the “image” of theforeground and background, as defined herein, need not encompass astatic image. In at least one embodiment, the foreground/backgroundimage may include video content or other types of streaming and/orstored media (e.g., a song). Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the touchscreen of the mobile device may be configured to display a foregroundvideo image to the user that can be removed at every location where theuser touches the display screen. In the area were the user touches orwipes the screen, a background image, possibly including another video,a picture, a prize indicator, or other streaming and/or stored media,will be displayed and the foreground image will be cleared in thatparticular area.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, in the event the useris awarded and/or claims a prize after playing a game using one of theabove noted embodiments of the disclosure, the user may then be giventhe option to “upgrade” the prize to a more valuable or otherwisedifferent prize. A particular upgrade may require additional input fromthe user, for instance, an additional payment may be required to upgradethe prize, or an additional input of personal information may berequired. Upgrading a prize may also be obtainable by user participationin a survey, poll, review of a product/service, by viewing and/or ratingan advertisement, commercial, or other sponsor content, or by the userproviding any other marketing-type information that may have value to anadvertiser using the system or methods provided herein. In otherembodiments, an upgraded prize may be obtainable by redeeming existingor accumulated points or credits that would be applied toward theupgrade.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the prize awarded tothe user can include an opportunity to earn an additional prize orpoints/credits by rating the prize (e.g., the product or service)previously received after consuming or experiencing the prize. Otherembodiments may allow the user to convert the prize into additionalchances to play the same or other games for a chance to win additionalor greater value prizes.

In another exemplary embodiment, in the event the user wins a game, tobecome eligible to receive a prize or reward, the user may be requiredto input additional information. Prize eligibility may be based on theuser providing an additional payment, coupon, code, or personalinformation, wherein the information submitted by the user willgenerally have value to either an advertiser on the system or the systemadministrator in furthering the business goals of the respectiveparties. In other embodiments, to be eligible to receive a prize orreward, a user may be required to participate in a survey or poll,review a product/service, or view and/or rate an advertisement,commercial, or other sponsor media content, which again is calculated toprovide value to an advertiser on the system.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, in the event the useris awarded and/or claims a prize, the user may be able to donate theprize to a charity or other organization. In one or more embodiments,the user may be able to donate the prize to a church, a university, analumni association, a political cause or group, a non-profitorganization, a charitable organization, etc. In other embodiments, theuser may be able to gift the prize to another individual, for example, afamily member or a friend, and may be able to do so via electronic mailor by depositing the prize or credit for the prize in an account ofanother. The present system may further be configured to facilitate theuser donating the price or award to another user or third party, andfurther, the system may be configured to track the value of a user'sdonations. For example, the system of the present disclosure may beconfigured to maintain records of a user's donations of prizes tocharitable organizations, and then periodically provide (electronicallyor hard copy) an accounting or suitable record of the total of thecharitable donations made by a user to the user for tax recordkeepingpurposes.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the prize awarded tothe user can include cash or monetary credit to an account associatedwith the user. As explained above, credits or points may also be earnedthrough prize awards; in some cases random amounts of credits or pointsmay be awarded based on a user's gaming activity. In one or moreembodiments, credits can be applied to programs, such as,frequent-flier, travel, and frequent-stay programs. In otherembodiments, the prize may include viewable or audible media, such as adownloadable movie, a preview or trailer to an upcoming event or motionpicture, songs, images, directions to an advertiser's place of business,a secret recipe, etc. In other embodiments, the prize may includetickets or an event pass to an upcoming event, such as a concert, sportsevent, or an equivalent social event. The prize may also includemembership to select organizations, subscriptions to a periodical orother published work, weather information, stock or trading information,investment instrument information, a personalized horoscope,sports-related information, or entry into other contests or promotions.In at least one embodiment of the disclosure the prize or award may bemonetary, such as when the system or method of the disclosure is used toconduct an electronic lottery-type scratch off game. In otherembodiments of the disclosure the system or method may generally be usedto play a game wherein the end result of a winning game is a monetaryprize or reward.

In another exemplary embodiment, the methods and computer programsdisclosed herein may provide a platform for other games involving GPS orsatellite location technology. In these embodiments the games, rules,odds, prizes and prize options, images, sounds and vibration, oradvertisements can be tied directly to the user's current location,speed, altitude, and/or direction of movement toward a second or targetlocation. As can be appreciated, prizes and applications for theembodiments disclosed herein can equally be tailored to the user'scurrent or anticipated location, where sponsors and advertisers canprovide applications and prizes correlating to localized retailsponsors.

In another exemplary embodiment, parameters such as the game design,availability, rules, prizes and prize options, images, advertisements,sounds and vibration, and odds can all be tied to or tailored to thespecific user. In at least one embodiment such parameters can correlateto the general demographic of the user and the user's personalpreferences or inputs. Such parameters can also change in accordancewith a user's current status, for instance, the user's cumulativepoints/credits status, the user's game history, or the user's spendinghistory. Other embodiments may allow the user to track a personalcurrent “rank” among other players in a certain game or with referenceto overall cumulative points/credits. Embodiments may also provide aprogram status for a user based on the success or amount of gamesplayed. For example, a hierarchy status of gold, silver, or bronze levelmay be awarded to the user for participating in a set number of games oraccumulating a set number of points/credits.

Moreover, a user may have the option to customize the look and feel of agame. For example, a user may be allowed to purchase a retail-sponsoredbackground/foreground template or design feature that personalizes thegame to the user's preferences. Such customization could be purchased bythe user with currency, points/credits, or could be offered as at leastone of the prizes/awards to a game.

In another exemplary embodiment, the methods and programs disclosedherein can provide the user with seamless access to ordering and/orpreparing an awarded prize for delivery or pickup. Where a prize is notearned by the user during a game, embodiments of the disclosure may beconfigured to provide the user with ordering information for a productor service, whether it is for delivery or pickup, so that the user maypurchase the prize or award directly from a supplier or advertiser. Suchinformation may include maps and directions to advertiser retailoutlets, or in at least one embodiment of the disclosure, theinformation may include a link to website where the user can purchasethe prize of award themselves.

In another exemplary embodiment, the methods and programs disclosedherein can provide the user with lottery gaming applications, forexample, interstate, regional, state, or locally-sponsored lotteries,and the ability to participate in such lotteries. In one or moreembodiments, a user may be able to choose from a variety oflottery-based games similar to the paper-based games available fromlocal retailers. As described herein, the term “scratch-off game” caninclude any lottery-based game available from local retailers. In atleast one embodiment, a user may have the ability to choose numbers(e.g., a combination of numbers, etc.) and or randomly generated numbersbased on a specific lottery game type. In other embodiments, electroniclottery ticket purchases according to the present disclosure can be tiedto a sponsor-approved store or retail outlet. Embodiments of thedisclosure may further allow a user to print or email copies of winningtickets as required by sponsors, regulations, and/or laws.

Moreover, the methods and programs disclosed herein may facilitateseamless advertising venues for retail sponsors, such as a state lotterycommission or equivalent organization. For example, retail sponsors maybe able to sell advertising space in the games described herein, such asbanner “click-through” ads or advertising content such as pictures,sounds, video, and/or images of other companies' brands, products orservices. As can be appreciated, the particular advertising content canbe deployed in real-time and tailored to meet the specific needs of eachapplication, including employing micro-advertising options, as known inthe art.

In one embodiment, user eligibility to buy or participate in alottery-based game can be determined or governed by data captured orentered by the user, and can include information indicating age andwhere the user resides or is physically located at the time of thepurchase. Moreover, user eligibility to buy or participate in a game mayalso be validated by location data made available by location-basedtechnology (e.g., GPS) indicating where the player is physically locatedat the time of purchase. As can be appreciated, employing location-basedtechnology may facilitate the availability of location-based games oradvertising. For example, if a user is located in a particular state orregion of the world, games and/or advertisements correlated to that areacould be downloaded to the user. Therefore, advertisements and contentmay be able to vary in accordance with current user-location.

Additionally, the user eligibility to play the game may also be verifiedagainst personal or demographic information that the system or methodhas access to about the user. For example, the system or method of thedisclosure may require a user to register and provide verification ofage in order to use the service. Thus, when a lottery-type game isplayed, the system or method may use this information to verifyparameters, such as age eligibility, by using known demographicinformation. Further still, the system or method of the disclosure maybe configured to query the user regarding personal or demographicinformation, including residence and current locations, to confirm thatthe actual user is the person associated with the user account.

User eligibility to redeem a winning ticket can also be determined orgoverned by data captured or entered by the user, including informationindicating age and where the user resides or is physically located atthe time of purchase. As noted above, location information may also bevalidated via location-based technology (e.g., GPS). In one or moreembodiments, ticket redemption eligibility can be tied asponsor-approved store or retail outlet.

In other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, the methods andprograms disclosed herein can provide the user with secondary lotterygaming applications configured to facilitate second-chance drawings forthe user. For example, a user may be able to take a “losing” lotteryticket, such as an electronic scratch-off game, and play for a secondaryprize. In one embodiment, the secondary prize may not be as lucrative orvaluable as a prize from the first lottery game, but nonetheless mayprovide the user with a second chance to obtain a win indicator. Usereligibility and redemption eligibility for secondary lottery gaming canbe validated as described above.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that thoseskilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the presentdisclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they mayreadily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifyingother processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/orachieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein.Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions andalterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

1. A method for displaying advertising to a mobile user, comprising:selecting, at the game or advertising server network, a first electronicscratch off game corresponding to a geographic location or ananticipated geographic location of the mobile user; downloading theselected electronic scratch off game to the mobile device from theserver; displaying a foreground game image to the mobile user of themobile device; receiving a wiping input from the mobile user of themobile device on a touch screen of the mobile device; removing a portionof the foreground game image corresponding to the wiping input;displaying a background game image in areas corresponding to the wipinginput, wherein the background game image contains a scratch off game winindicator or loss indicator; using the loss indicator to select, fromthe game or advertising server network, a second electronic scratch offgame corresponding to the geographic location or anticipated geographiclocation identifier; using the win indicator at a sponsor advertisinglocation to obtain a prize or item of value; and upgrading the prize oritem of value by requiring additional input from the mobile user.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein downloading the electronic scratch off gameto the mobile device from the central server comprises checking a mobiledevice game identification value against a server game identificationvalue, wherein the server game identification value is calculated basedon the geographical location identifier.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein displaying the foreground image further comprises displaying anadvertising component.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying thebackground image comprises displaying an advertising component.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein upgrading the prize or item of valuecomprises an opportunity to convert the prize or item of value into anadditional chance to play the first or second electronic scratch offgame.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional input from themobile user comprises requiring the mobile user to participate in asurvey, a poll, or a review of a product/service, or by viewing andrating an advertisement, commercial, or other sponsor content.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising storing a compilation of winindicators in a memory of the mobile device so that the win indicatorsmay be subsequently used.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the logoninformation further comprises a mobile device ID, a username andpassword for the game or server network, and the geographic locationidentifier.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronicscratch off game results in a secondary prize or item of value that isless valuable than the prize or item of value received from the firstelectronic scratch off game.
 10. A computer program embodied on acomputer readable medium, that when executed by a processor, isconfigured to control a method for displaying advertising content to amobile user, comprising: uploading logon information from a mobiledevice to a central server, wherein the logon information contains ageographical location identifier; downloading a first current electronicscratch off game to the mobile device from the central server, whereinthe first current electronic scratch off game corresponds to thegeographic location identifier; displaying a foreground image to a userof the mobile device; receiving a wiping input from the user of themobile device on a touch screen of the mobile device; removing a portionof the foreground image corresponding to the wiping input; displayingbackground image in areas corresponding to the wiping input; displayinga win indicator or a loss indicator; using the loss indicator to selectfrom the central server a second current electronic scratch off gamecorresponding to the geographic location identifier; using the winindicator at a retail sponsor advertising location to obtain a prize oritem of value; and upgrading the prize or item of value by requiringadditional input from the mobile user.
 11. The computer program of claim10, wherein downloading the electronic scratch off game to the mobiledevice from the central server further comprises confirming that a gameon the mobile device corresponds to the geographical locationidentifier.
 12. The computer program of claim 10, wherein displaying theforeground image and or the background image further comprisesdisplaying an advertising component.
 13. The computer program of claim10, wherein upgrading the prize or item of value comprises anopportunity to convert the prize or item of value into an additionalchance to play the first or second electronic scratch off game.
 14. Thecomputer program of claim 10, wherein the additional input from themobile user comprises requiring the mobile user to participate in asurvey, a poll, or a review of a product/service, or by viewing andrating an advertisement, commercial, or other sponsor content.
 15. Thecomputer program of claim 10, further comprising maintaining a localdatabase of win indicators on the mobile device for subsequent use. 16.The method of claim 1, wherein the second current electronic scratch offgame results in a secondary prize or item of value that is less valuablethan the prize or item of value received from the first currentelectronic scratch off game.
 17. A method for displaying targetedadvertising to a user of a mobile device, comprising: receiving a logonrequest from the mobile device in an advertising server, wherein thelogon request includes a mobile device ID and geographic locationinformation for the mobile device; validating the logon request in theadvertising server, and in response to the validating, sending a firstgeographically-specific scratch off game from the server to the mobiledevice, wherein the scratch off game includes a unique package ID;receiving the first scratch off game and the unique package ID in themobile device, and validating the first scratch off game by comparingthe received unique package ID with a locally stored game package ID;upon successful validation of the scratch off game, allowing the user toplay the game, comprising: displaying a foreground image to the user ona touch screen display of the mobile device; receiving a touch screeninput on the mobile device and removing the foreground image in an areawhere the touch screen input was received, thus revealing portions of abackground image to illustrate a win indicator or loss indicator; usingthe win indicator at a retail sponsor advertising location to obtain aprize or item of value; and using the loss indicator to select from theadvertising server a second geographically-specific scratch off game,wherein the second scratch off game results in a secondary prize or itemof value redeemable at a retail sponsor advertising location.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein sending a geographically specific scratchoff game from the server to the mobile device further comprisesselecting a scratch off game from a database of games using thegeographic location information as a primary selection criteria.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising selling geographically targetedadvertising to advertisers for display on the mobile device when thedevice has a game played in an advertiser's selected geographic area.20. The method of claim 17, wherein the prize or item of value or thesecondary prize or item of value may be upgraded by requiring additionalinput from the mobile user.